Final answer:
The Age of Pericles was characterized by the establishment of Athenian hegemony, economic growth, cultural flourishing known as the Athenian Golden Age, and democratic advancements, even as it extended its empire over other Greek city-states.
Step-by-step explanation:
The brilliant age of Pericles rested on Athenian political hegemony, economic prosperity, and cultural development, famously known as the Athenian Golden Age or the Age of Pericles. Following the peace with Persia, Athens exercised control over the Delian League, turning it from an alliance into an empire. This era was marked by the extensive reforms of Pericles, including the introduction of pay for public servants and jury members which allowed broader citizen participation in governance, democratic institutions, and the blossoming of culture and arts.
Under Periclean leadership, Athens underwent an extensive building program, especially on the Athenian Acropolis, started by Pericles following the Persian Wars. The public funds and resources of the empire facilitated the emergence of significant cultural figures such as Socrates, Plato, and dramatists like Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides, shaping Western culture and philosophy.
Despite its democratic advances, Athens built its empire and prosperity also upon the resources and subjugation of other Greek city-states, revealing a complex history of both tremendous cultural achievements and political dominance during this period.